Ch 4: Whole Body Terminology

Question 1

anaplasia

Answer 1

a change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form

ex: often seen in cancerous cells when mitosis causes cells to ‘revert’ to a more stem-like cell and it no longer functions as part of the tissue that surrounds it

Question 2

anterior

Answer 2

pertaining to the front of the body or toward the belly

Question 3

aplasia

Answer 3

a developmental failure resulting in the absence of any organ or tissue; most types are present from birth

ex: aplasia cutis congenita is a rare condition that causes newborns to have skin missing from parts of their body; it most commonly affects the scalp, but in some cases, the underlying structures beneath the skin, such as bone, may also not be present

Question 4

caudal

Answer 4

pertaining to the tail

Question 5

cell

Answer 5

the smallest and most numerous structural unit of living matter

Question 6

cell membrane

Answer 6

the semipermeable barrier that is the outer covering of a cell

Question 7

cervical vertebrae

Answer 7

the first seven segments of the spinal column, identified as C1 through C7

Question 8

chromosomes

Answer 8

the threadlike structures within the nucleus that control the functions of growth, repair, and reproduction for the body

Question 9

cytology

Answer 9

the study of cells

Question 10

cytoplasm

Answer 10

a gel-like substance that surrounds the nucleus of a cell; it contains organelles which carry out the essential functions of the cell

Question 11

dorsal

Answer 11

pertaining to the back

Question 12

dorsum

Answer 12

the back or posterior surface of a part; in the foot, the top of the foot

Question 13

dysplasia

Answer 13

any abnormal development of tissues or organs

Question 14

epithelial tissue

Answer 14

covers the internal and external organs of the body; it also lines the vessels, body cavities, glands, and body organs

Question 15

genes

Answer 15

segments of chromosomes that transmit heredity characteristics

Question 16

histologist

Answer 16

specialist in the study of tissues

Question 17

hyperplasia

Answer 17

an increase in the number of cells of a body part; there are two types, physiologic and pathologic

ex: physiologic occurs due to a normal stressor, such as an increase in breast tissue during pregnancy; pathologic occurs due to an abnormal stressor, such as growth of adrenal glands due to production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by a pituitary adenoma

Question 18

hypoplasia

Answer 18

incomplete or underdeveloped organ or tissue; usually a result in a decrease in the number of cells; the types and symptoms vary widely

ex: optical nerve hypoplasia, characterized by visual difficulties nystagmus and strabismus

Question 19

intervertebral disc

Answer 19

a flat, circular, plate-like structure of cartilage that serves as a cushion/absorber between the vertebrae

Question 20

long axis

Answer 20

essentially the midline of the body

Question 21

lumbar vertebrae

Answer 21

the largest and strongest of the vertebrae of the spinal column, located in the lower back; consists of five large segments of the movable part of the spinal column, identified as L1 through L5

Question 22

lysosomes

Answer 22

organelles that contain various types of enzymes that function in intercellular digestion; they destroy bacteria by digesting them

Question 23

McBurney’s Point

Answer 23

a point on the right side of the abdomen, about two-thirds of the distance between the umbilicus and the anterior bony prominence of the hip

Question 24

medial

Answer 24

toward the midline of the body

Question 25

mediolateral

Answer 25

pertaining to the middle and side of a structure

Question 26

membrane

Answer 26

a thin layer of tissue that covers a surface, lines a cavity, or divides a space

ex: the peritoneum that lines the abdominal wall

Question 27

neoplasia

Answer 27

new and abnormal development of cells that may be benign or malignant

Question 28

nucleus

Answer 28

the central controlling body within a living cell that is enclosed within the cell membrane

Question 29

peritoneum

Answer 29

a specific serous membrane that covers the entire abdominal wall of the body and is reflected over the contained viscera

Question 30

posterior

Answer 30

pertaining to the back of the body

Question 31

pronation

Answer 31

a movement that allows the palms of the hands to turn downward and backward

Question 32

proximal

Answer 32

toward or nearest to the trunk of the body or nearest to the point of attachment of a body part